Our Town Downtown - June 2, 2016 by OurTown Downtown

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KIDS WHO WILL NEVER BE ON A MILK CARTON INVESTIGATION

NEWS Oliver Rosenberg, Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s first primary opponent since 1998, changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat just four years ago BY MELODY CHAN AND RICHARD KHAVKINE

Shortly after graduating from Yeshiva University in 2007, Oliver Rosenberg’s political convictions began to shift. Rosenberg had been a registered Republican since he was 19 and living in Los Angeles. But having come out as a gay man while at Yeshiva, Rosenberg found that his values were increasingly out of sync with the Republicans, and more aligned with those of the Democratic Party. What had been a gradual process would turn into an epiphany by the end of 2009, when his party allegiance would shift once and for all. Rosenberg was 24. Or so goes Rosenberg’s public narrative, gleaned through interviews with the candidate, his staff and through the website he has set up for his campaign to unseat Jerrold Nadler, the 12-term congressman from the Upper West Side, in the June 28 primary. Public records, however, reveal a more nuanced progression for the 30-year-old Rosenberg. For instance, although Rosenberg’s communications director, Curtis Ellis, said Rosenberg’s affiliation with Republicanism was little more than “a youthful indiscretion,” records show that Rosenberg’s initial voter registration, in 2004, as a Republican in Los Angeles, remains active. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder’s/County Clerk’s office conﬁrmed on

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2-8 2016

2016

NADLER OPPONENT’S MURKY PARTY ROOTS

WEEK OF JUNE

numbers of how many homeless gay youths are in New York City are difﬁcult to pinpoint due to shifting living situations (they often crash on friends’ couches) but the Urban Institute, a DC-based think tank, estimate that 43 percent of homeless youths in New York City identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Many of them are like Moore – not born or raised in New York – but rather, came here searching for a more accepting community only to ﬁnd themselves living on the street.

As homelessness among LGBT young people continues to rise in the city, the official response is as muddled as ever BY JEFFREY KOPP

When Picasso Moore moved to New York City, he thought he’d be the next Carrie Bradshaw. And whether or not he’d be living on the Upper East Side, he didn’t really care – it was just time for a change. Moore grew up in a Catholic household near Gainesville, Georgia, a conservative Bible Belt city. Since boyhood, his mother was uncomfortable with the way he dressed, the way he talked, and especially his “friends” that he brought over (romantic and sexual partners being passed off as “one of the guys”) – so she tried sending him to summer camps geared to make effeminate boys, in the fear that they would grow up to be gay, more masculine. When Moore remained the same gay boy he had always been, his mother had him attend conversion therapy sessions with a priest, who told him to place a ﬁnger down his throat to make himself vomit while listening to Bible verses about homosexuality. When none of that worked and he came out to his mother at 15, she told him to pack his things and leave. For nearly three years after that he lived out of his car in the parking lot of a local Wal-Mart. He managed to graduate from high school after transferring to an online homeschool program, using public WiFi for school and working retail and service jobs to make enough money to buy premade grocery store food. He showered at a friend’s house. After graduating, he sold the car,

Lending a Hand

Picasso Moore, who found himself homeless in New York after being forced out of his home in Georgia. Photo by Jeffrey Kopp packed his bags and bought a plane ticket to New York. He had $2,000 in his pocket from selling the car and was ready to make a new life for himself. “I pictured everything being really romantic and idyllic, and I’d walk down the street and ﬁnd a job in some kind of gallery,” said Moore. “I thought my problems were because I was in this hick town that was super racist and homophobic and that once I got to this place (New York), things were going to be different. But my circumstance kind of followed me.” At ﬁrst, everything worked out well

– he rented a cheap hotel room on the Bowery while he looked for apartments, working at a luxury-brand women’s consignment store in SoHo. But when someone stole an expensive purse and the store had to pay back the woman who consigned it, they could no longer afford their most recent hire and Moore was out of job. Then, when he couldn’t afford the deposits on the apartments he saw on Craigslist, his funds dried up and he began sleeping outside in ATM vestibules and on the subway. Moore’s story may be heartwrenching, but it’s not unique. Exact

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FOR HIM, SETTLING SMALL CLAIMS IS A BIG DEAL presided over Arbitration Man has three decades. for informal hearings about it He’s now blogging BY RICHARD KHAVKINE

is the common Arbitration Man their jurist. least folks’ hero. Or at Man has For 30 years, Arbitration court office of the civil few sat in a satellite Centre St. every building at 111 New Yorkers’ weeks and absorbed dry cleaning, burned lost accountings of fender benders, lousy paint jobs, and the like. And security deposits then he’s decided. Arbitration Man, About a year ago, so to not afwho requested anonymity started docuhe fect future proceedings, two dozen of what menting about compelling cases considers his most blog. in an eponymous about it because “I decided to write the stories but in a I was interested about it not from wanted to write from view but rather lawyer’s point of said Arbitration view,” of a lay point lawyer since 1961. Man, a practicing what’s at issue He ﬁrst writes about post, renders and then, in a separatehow he arrived his decision, detailing blog the to Visitors at his conclusion. their opinions. often weigh in with get a rap going. I to “I really want whether they unreally want to know and why I did it,” I did derstood what don’t know how to he said. “Most people ... I’d like my cases the judge thinks. and also my trereﬂect my personalitythe law.” for mendous respect 80, went into indiMan, Arbitration suc in 1985, settling vidual practice

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MANHATTAN'S APARTMENT BOOM, > PROPERTY, P.20

2015

In Brief MORE HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The effort to help small seems to businesses in the city be gathering steam. Two city councilmembers, Robert Margaret Chin and Cornegy, have introduced create legislation that wouldSmall a new “Office of the within Business Advocate” of Small the city’s Department Business Services. Chin The new post, which have up told us she’d like to would and running this year, for serve as an ombudsman city small businesses within them clear government, helping to get through the bureaucracy things done. Perhaps even more also importantly, the ombudsman and number will tally the type small business of complaints by taken in owners, the actions policy response, and somefor ways to recommendations If done well, begin to fix things. report would the ombudsman’s give us the first quantitative with taste of what’s wrong the city, an small businesses in towards important first step fixing the problem. of for deTo really make a difference, is a mere formality will have to the work process looking to complete their advocate are the chances course, velopers precinct, but rising rents, -- thanks to a find a way to tackle business’ is being done legally of after-hours projects quickly. their own hours,” which remain many While Chin “They pick out boom in the number throughout who lives on most vexing problem. said Mildred Angelo,of the Ruppert construction permits gauge what Buildings one said it’s too early tocould have the 19th floor in The Department of the city. number three years, the Houses on 92nd Street between role the advocate She Over the past on the is handing out a record work perThird avenues. permits, there, more information of Second and an ongoing all-hours number of after-hours bad thing. of after-hours work the city’s Dept. problem can’t be a said there’s with the mits granted by nearby where according to new data jumped 30 percent, This step, combinedBorough construction project noise Buildings has data provided in workers constantly make efforts by Manhattan to mediate BY DANIEL FITZSIMMONS according to DOB of Informacement from trucks. President Gale Brewer offer response to a Freedom classifies transferring they want. They knows the the rent renewal process, request. The city They 6 “They do whatever signs Every New Yorker clang, tion Act go as they please. work between some early, tangible small any construction on the weekend, can come and sound: the metal-on-metal or the piercing of progress. For many have no respect.” p.m. and 7 a.m., can’t come of these that the hollow boom, issuance reverse. owners, in business moving The increased beeps of a truck has generto a correspond and you as after-hours. soon enough. variances has led at the alarm clock The surge in permits

SLEEPS, THANKS TO THE CITY THAT NEVER UCTION A BOOM IN LATE-NIGHT CONSTR NEWS

A glance it: it’s the middle can hardly believe yet construction of the night, and carries on full-tilt. your local police or You can call 311

n OurTownDowntow

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for dollars in fees ated millions of and left some resithe city agency, that the application dents convinced

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Several organizations have taken it upon themselves to get these kids back on their feet, with varying degrees of success. The most well-known is the Ali Forney Center (AFC), which provides a vast array of services for youths like Moore. On 125th Street at St. Nicholas Avenue, the “center” itself is an 8,000 squarefoot facility that looks like a cross between a high school and a hostel; in one section is a hallway, lined with orange and white linoleum ﬂoors and an array of offices on both sides where clients can see case managers, social workers, nurses, and doctors. On the other side is a common room, a computer lab, and a space for classes and workshops. Down another hallway are bathrooms, shower, and laundry facilities. At night, the open space is cleared out to make way for cots for LGBT youths to sleep. In addition, AFC rents apartments in several buildings in Manhattan and Brooklyn as “transitional housing,” providing a place for AFC’s clients to sleep and get back on their feet. Each apartment is usually a three- to four-bedroom unit with two beds in each room, although some people get lucky and snag a single.

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Chapter 14

EVE AND OTHERS BY ESTHER COHEN

PREVIOUSLY: A building on the Upper West Side decided to form an ad hoc detective agency to ﬁnd a man who vanished nearby. They’re calling themselves Eve and Others. We want readers’ ideas about Alyosha’s disappearance. Could this be a murder or did he just vanish to a place of his choice? Who is Alyosha anyway? And why is he not where he belongs? Let us know your thoughts at news@strausnews.com. They plan a visit to the disappeared man’s apartment, a few blocks away. They’ll meet Anibal, the building’s super, and he’ll take them inside. Anibal Medrano, handsome Dominican dancer, he could salsa, he

could tango, there wasn’t a dance he couldn’t do, married to a tough New York City policewoman by the name of Angie Cruz, he’d been the building superintendent for 15 years. Most of the tenants, he knew inside out. Not every single one of them, but most. His technique was listening, and smiling, remembering all that was said. The delegation went to visit him. They were a motley group of disparate individuals held together by a building, by an address, held together by their first potluck, their fi rst common mission, the agenda of fi nding a disappeared man. Who knew why this idea, of uncovering reasons why people just go away when most of us are so fi xed in our spots, regimented and certain, coffee at eight, a shower before bed, who knew why some people just stop it all and disappear? Anibal was waiting in front of the building, prepared to answer whatever he could. “Here’s his rental agreement,” he said. “I had a copy in my fi le cabinet. His monthly rent was $185. He was always on time. He said hello and goodbye. I asked the other ten-

ants what they knew about him. Not too much. He was a good dancer,” Anibal said. “A professional. Me, too.”

They were a motley group of disparate individuals held together by a building, by an address, held together by their first potluck, their first common mission, the agenda of finding a disappeared man.” Here he smiled, as though he and missing Alyosha had more in common than the ersatz detectives suspected. “Would you mind taking us inside his apartment,” asked Mrs. Israel. For the official encounter, she was wearing a brown wool suit, with the mandatory lapel pin, a gold

My IDNYC card helps us easily access city resources, from the library to the city hospital. I can get discounts on groceries, medicine, and movie tickets.

plated circle. Matching gold clip earrings were on her ears. Her hair, an unflappable helmet, was sprayed in place. She brandished her official yellow pad. “Any facts you might have, I’ll keep for our later study. You can tell me. Height, weight, that kind of thing.” “His weight had to fluctuate. Like every one of us,” said Pin Ball. “Not at all,” Richard protested. “Dancers are thin. They’re obsessed.” “I happen,” said Pin Ball, “to be a professional dancer. Just one of my skills.” “I’ve got the keys,” said Anibal, bringing the conversation back full circle. “Let’s all go together.” The room was neat, spare, unruffled. It looked like Alyosha had just gone out for a minute. For Tropicana, for a Creamsicle, for a quick coffee with a friend. They each circled the room, looking for clues: in the medicine cabinet (sunscreen, Covergirl repair stick, nail clippers, aspirin), in the neat dresser drawers where his socks actually looked ironed, in a file with the unimaginative title PAPERS, and at last, on the refrigerator door, where they found this letter, taped

in the center. Was this letter an actual clue? Dear Good Friend Sir, I am the fifth child and only daughter of the most prominent Nigerian leader ever. The law forbids me from saying his name out loud, much less in this personal letter to you. I found your name and all your crucial information in the Nigerian Public Library. We are well-equipped. You are a reliable person. It is my intention to give you 500,000 US Dollars. That is 40 percent of my inheritance. Do you want to hear the entire story? If the answer is YES which I hope by All Divine Intention is what you will say (every one of us has our reasons) then I will tell you where to MEET ME. Those details I am not yet ready to reveal. Here is what I am asking you to do. Write back to me at this Post Office Box where I will eagerly retrieve your reply. From there, we will continue. Yours In Hope In God In Good Will and In Eternal Friendship, Yoruba Edo Eﬁk, Jr. Jr. Could this be the clue they were all waiting for?

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CRIME WATCH BY JERRY DANZIG

BULLETS TESTED IN CONCERT SHOOTING Police conducted ballistic tests to determine whether more than one gun was used in a shooting inside a hiphop concert featuring artist T.I. that killed one person and injured three others. Among those tests was an analysis of a bullet removed from the leg of rapper Troy Ave, who remained hospitalized following his arrest on attempted murder and weapons charges in the Wednesday night shooting, a police spokesman said. No weapons have been recovered, though tests have found that five 9-mm shell casings discovered at the scene belong to the same gun, according to Stephen Davis, the department’s top spokesman. Troy Ave, whose real name is Roland Collins, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. One of his security guards, 33-year-old Ronald McPhatter, was killed in the shooting. Two others were shot and injured. A spokeswoman for Manhattan prosecutors said she didn’t know when Collins would be arraigned. An eight-second video clip released by police shows a limping gunman

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-- identiﬁed by the police as Collins -burst through a VIP room door, stop and scan the room, then raise his gun and ﬁre a single round. There were nearly 1,000 concertgoers in the building at the time of the shooting and witnesses described a chaotic scene as people ducked under counters and clutched one another, then rushed toward exits. What sparked the violence remains unclear, officials said. Collins, 30, was in custody and couldn’t be reached for comment.

RENTAL DISORDER Midafternoon on May 16, a 45-yearold man parked his rental car in front of 136 West Broadway. When he returned at 3:35 p.m., the a gray 2015 Toyota Camry was gone. He still had both keys to the car, and there were no signs of broken glass at the scene. Police searched the neighborhood but could not ﬁnd the car, bearing New Jersey plates U22FHC.

STOOP OOP A photographer taking pictures on Jay Street on the Sunday morning of May 22 had a bag of lenses worth nearly $4,000 taken from a stoop where he had set them down, police

said. The photographer, a 43-year-old man from Santa Barbara, California, was taking pictures of a client in front of 18 Jay St. had set down his lenses on a stoop while he photographed down the block. The items stolen included a Canon 55-205 mm zoom lens valued at $1,000, a Canon 20-100 mm zoom lens valued at $800, a Commlite adapter valued at $250, Sony and Canon batteries worth $400, memory cards totaling $250, a Zoom audio recorder tagged at $500, a bag worth $150, and a Canon 50 mm prime lens priced at $550.

GREENE WITH LARCENY No Our Town Downtown Crime Watch column would be complete without at least one shoplifting incident in a local boutique. At 5:05 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, a 55-year-old man stole two handbags from a shelf in the Saint Laurent store at 80 Greene St. The two stolen bags had a total value of $2,340.

ARI SCARY One shoplifter was so bold that he engaged a store employee in conversation even while he had the stolen merchandise on his person. At

The

Dow ntow n A llian and Fo ce sun pre sent

STATS FOR THE WEEK Reported crimes from the 1st precinct Week to Date

Year to Date

2016 2015

% Change

2016

2015

% Change

Murder

n/a

Rape

n/a

200.0

Robbery

0.0

37.5

Felony Assault

100.0

-10.0

Burglary

-100.0

3.9

Grand Larceny

92.9

409

365

12.1

Grand Larceny Auto

0.0

33.3

3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, a man entered the ARI menswear shop at 471 West Broadway. He grabbed a black ARI leather jacket, priced at $1,695, off a rack and then walked to a blind spot and concealed the item. He next walked around the store and chatted with a 43-year-old female employee before leaving. Police searched the vicinity but could not ﬁnd the thief or his booty.

OPEN TO CRIME At 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, a 24-year-old man parked his car, a black 2015 BMW 328i, in front of 100 Reade

St. When he returned the following morning at 8 a.m., he noticed that several items were missing from the front and rear of the vehicle as well as the trunk. He told police that he might have left the rear passenger’s side window open, and there were no signs of forced entry to the vehicle. The items stolen included an iPad Air 2 valued at $500, an Ogio briefcase worth $70, a Joseph A Bank suit tagged at $250, Vyvanse prescription medication worth $150, Ray-Ban sunglasses priced at $120, and Under Armour Steph Curry Two shoes, making a total value of $1,090.

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Useful Contacts POLICE NYPD 7th Precinct

19 ½ Pitt St.

212-477-7311

NYPD 6th Precinct

233 W. 10th St.

212-741-4811

NYPD 10th Precinct

230 W. 20th St.

212-741-8211

NYPD 13th Precinct

230 E. 21st St.

NYPD 1st Precinct

16 Ericsson Place

212-477-7411

FDNY Engine 15

25 Pitt St.

311

FDNY Engine 24/Ladder 5

227 6th Ave.

311

FDNY Engine 28 Ladder 11

222 E. 2nd St.

311

FDNY Engine 4/Ladder 15

42 South St.

311

ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmember Margaret Chin

165 Park Row #11

Councilmember Rosie Mendez

237 1st Ave. #504

212-677-1077

Councilmember Corey Johnson

224 W. 30th St.

212-564-7757

State Senator Daniel Squadron

212-587-3159

250 Broadway #2011

212-298-5565

Community Board 1

1 Centre St., Room 2202

212-442-5050

Community Board 2

3 Washington Square Village

212-979-2272

Community Board 3

59 E. 4th St.

212-533-5300

Community Board 4

330 W. 42nd St.

212-736-4536

Hudson Park

66 Leroy St.

212-243-6876

Ottendorfer

135 2nd Ave.

212-674-0947

Elmer Holmes Bobst

70 Washington Square

212-998-2500

COMMUNITY BOARDS

LIBRARIES

HOSPITALS New York-Presbyterian

170 William St.

Mount Sinai-Beth Israel

10 Union Square East

212-844-8400

CON EDISON

4 Irving Place

212-460-4600

TIME WARNER

46 East 23rd

813-964-3839

212-312-5110

US Post Office

201 Varick St.

212-645-0327

US Post Office

128 East Broadway

212-267-1543

US Post Office

93 4th Ave.

212-254-1390

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Little Leaguers concerned about practice space BY MADELEINE THOMPSON

The Little Leaguers that gathered in an auditorium in lower Manhattan last Tuesday night were not there for a sporting event, but for a community board hearing. Tha board was considering a development plan for the St. John’s Center on Washington Street, a block from the Hudson River. The roughly 20 kids, still in their uniforms, were joined by more than 50 adults, who were concerned both about the future mega-development and about the nearby Pier 40, where the kids have sports practices. Westbrook Partners and Atlas Capital Group are the developers of what will eventually be a multi-building commercial, residential and hotel complex and are hoping to transfer the air rights above Pier 40 to the St. John’s Center for the price of $100 million dollars in repairs to the dilapidated pier. For Harry Bubbins, East Village and special projects director at the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation, the issue is less about this particular development than it is about setting a precedent that might endanger more buildings in the future. “If there are not limits on any future air rights transfers, generated by Pier 40 as well as any other piers along the Hudson River, then projects of this enormous scope would be permitted anywhere one block in from the river,” Bubbins said, summarizing GVSHP’s main concerns. “So obviously any section one block in would be threatened by this kind of proposal.” The Department of City Planning, which is named as the applicant for an amendment that would establish a special Hudson River Park zoning district, presented its plan first. “The transfer of development rights would help to support the repair of Pier 40,” DCP representative Karolina Grebowiec-Hall said. During the presentation, one attendee couldn’t hold back his opposition. “How can you legally build over a river?” shouted one man, after Grebowiec-

A schematic of the Pier 40 plan Hall completed a complicated slideshow. “Her presentation boggles the mind!” After Grebowiec-Hall, Rick Cook of COOKFOX architects took the stage to describe the transformation he envisioned for the St. John’s Center. COOKFOX is considered part of the second applicant, SJC 33 Owner 2015 LLC, which is requesting a zoning map amendment, two special permits, an authorization for curb cuts and a chairperson’s certiﬁcation to construct five new buildings where the St. John’s center is now. The buildings will include a hotel, commercial and event space, market-rate housing, and some affordable and

senior-affordable housing on a 40,660-square-foot lot. At 430 feet, the tallest building would be about 40 stories tall. “We’ve kept the footprint of the towers very, very narrow,” Cook said in order to explain the height. “Much more narrow than you would see in a typical modern building.” Carin Ehrenberg, president of Greenwich Village Little League, called the development “beautiful and thoughtful” and credited it with giving back to the community by preserving a crucial sporting and recreation facility. “We’re running out of time,” she said. “We can’t continue to fight about this. We need to save the only

Little Leaguers concerned about their practice ﬁeld attended the meeting about the Pier 40 plans. Photo by Madeleine Thompson

park that our community has.” Others, like Bubbins, are skeptical of what the requested special districts and allowances could mean for the neighborhood’s future, despite the promised repairs. “If a developer was able to get away with this kind of mega-development without the sensible community protections … then they would be looking around for sites to do similar things,” Bubbins said. In particular, he listed the Gansevoort meat market and the parking lot at Jane and West Streets as potentially attractive development sites that should be preserved. Attendees at the meeting also wanted more precise descriptions of the affordable housing that would be included -- Cook could not provide the square footage of the affordable apartments -- and they wanted to know why the plans did not include a school, despite the families with children who will inevitably be moving in when the buildings are completed. “The ... analysis showed that we would generate 169 elementary students, 56 intermediate students and 84 high school students,” said land use attorney Michael Sillerman. The next meeting will be held June 6 at the New York City Fire Museum, about the speciﬁcs of the air rights transfer.

JUNE 2-8,2016

NADLER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Wednesday that Rosenberg remains registered as a Republican. And while Ellis said that Rosenberg — whose full name is Mikhail Oliver Rosenberg — had not voted in California since before 2008, a certified document from the Los Angeles County Registrar’s office shows that Rosenberg voted in Los Angeles on Nov. 6, 2012. Rosenberg first registered to vote in New York in January 2008, as a Republican, and voted in the state’s February 2008 primary as well as in that year’s November general election. He also voted here, still registered as a Republican, in 2010’s November general elections. He switched his New York voter registration to Democratic in August 2012, a change that would not officially take place until after that year’s November general election. That year, though, he voted in Los Angeles, as a Republican. Numerous attempts to speak with Rosenberg about his party affiliation have been unsuccessful. The New York County Democratic Committee also did not respond to questions about Rosenberg’s Republican affiliations. Rosenberg, a banker with JP Morgan Chase at the time, contributed $10,000 to the Obama Victory Fund 2012, a joint fundraising committee that funneled contributions to President Obama’s primary and general election campaigns and to the Democratic National Committee. He next voted in 2014’s general election, in New York, the first time he cast a ballot as a Democrat. He did so after signing an affidavit stating that he was qualified to vote in his Manhattan district, which was required since his registration here became inactive after he had submitted an address change noting a Los Angeles post office box. In April, he cast his first vote in a New York primary as a Democrat. Rosenberg, in an earlier interview, said the catalyst for his District 10 primary run against Nadler, who has not faced a primary contest since 1998, was the congressman’s support for the Iran nuclear accord negotiated between the U.S. and five other countries and Iran. Nadler, who also lives on the Upper West Side, was the only Jewish Democrat from New York’s congressional delegation to vote in favor of the nuclear deal, which some insist threatens Israel. To get on the primary ballot, Rosenberg, among other things, needed to submit a petition with 1,250 valid signatures from Democratic voters; he turned in 6,500. The 10th District sweeps from the Upper West Side to downtown on the west side and into the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Red Hook, Sunset Park and Bensonhurst. The district comprises a liberal constituency by

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any measure. And Rosenberg’s platform is decidedly liberal. Just as he is staunchly pro-Israel, Rosenberg says he wants to address income inequality by closing corporate tax loopholes, making public university education free, and promoting universal childcare and pre-K programs. He also wants to push to reverse the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, liberalize immigration policy and address climate change by, among

Oliver Rosenberg, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler in the June 28 Democratic primary, was a registered Republican until 2012. He remains a registered Republican on the Los Angeles County voter rolls. Photo: Melody Chan other steps, investing in clean energy. He also supports legalizing marijuana, which he said would open up a slew of business opportunities as well as increase tax revenue. He is equally determined to advocate for the LGBTQ community. Regardless, Nadler will prove a formidable incumbent to unseat, particularly in a primary election in late June, when interest — and voter turnout — is likely to be low, First elected in 1992 to represent Congress’ 8th District, Nadler, the second-most senior member on the House Judiciary Committee and a prominent ﬁgure on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a solid liberal, has plowed through Republican opponents ever since, including following two redistricting efforts. Rosenberg, whose campaign website proclaims him as “progressive, innovative, the change we need,” is hoping to change history.

WHY WE’RE CHANGING MOUNT SINAI OP-ED BY SUSAN SOMERVILLE

First, let’s set the record straight: Mount Sinai Beth Israel (MSBI) is not closing; it’s relocating and downsizing. This is not St. Vincent’s. This is a $500 million investment to transform and enhance services. Second, this is a four-year process, and all MSBI services will be uninterrupted and continue to be offered within our system. Third, the current Emergency Department (ED) will remain open until the new ED facility is completed. Now, let’s talk about why this is necessary. It’s no secret that healthcare delivery across the country is undergoing a seismic shift, with population health management, which emphasizes keeping entire communities healthy and out of the hospital, replacing the traditional fee-for-service model. Hospital use has been declining as patients look to receive care outside traditional hospital settings, and state and federal governments prioritize funding for coordinated care in these nontraditional settings. Nineteen hospitals have been forced to close in New York City alone since 2000. However, MSBI will not be one of them. MSBI is falling victim to the same trends as the other hospitals. On average, less than sixty percent of the hospital’s licensed beds are occupied, and patient volume at the financially troubled hospital has decreased by double digits since 2012. Furthermore, much of the existing MSBI infrastructure is aging and unable to meet the needs of the modern healthcare landscape. To address this, rather than close, we are choosing to transform MSBI, changing the way we deliver care in order to improve access, increase quality and preserve jobs. The new “Mount Sinai Downtown” will be an expanded and unified network of state-of-the-art facilities stretching from the East River to the Hudson River below 34th St., designed to serve patients in the most appropriate setting. The four-year transformation is anchored around a new, smaller Mount Sinai Downtown Beth Israel Hospital with approximately 70 beds

- combined with our existing 153 behavioral health beds - and a brandnew state-of-the-art Emergency Department. We are planning a robust expansion of walk-in facilities, with three major sites performing surgeries; an extensive network of 16 physician practice locations with more than 600 doctors; and a substantial investment in our behavioral health

services, which will actually remain in the Bernstein Pavilion on MSBI’s campus as part of our Comprehensive Behavioral Health Institute. This revolutionary network of greatly expanded services will be able to address the healthcare needs of today and the future. What this really means is that patients will have access to convenient care, close to home and work. That means seeing your doctor just blocks from home or getting a lab test done during your lunch break. Patients

can continue to see the same doctors they know and trust. Mount Sinai’s innovative Hospital at Home program exempliﬁes these new services, and will be an integral aspect of the downtown transformation. Because of advances in medical technology, patients that would have previously required treatment in an inpatient setting can increasingly receive care in outpatient facilities, or even there own home, unburdened by lengthy and expensive hospital stays. Our Mobile Acute Care Teams can simultaneously monitor significant numbers of patients in their own homes through telemetry and smartphone apps. While this transformation does mean that Mount Sinai Downtown will have fewer inpatient beds than it currently does, recent data show that New York City has a surplus of hospital beds that go unused. A 2014 Community Needs Assessment from Mount Sinai found that there were six beds for every 1,000 people in Manhattan, versus three for every 1,000 in New York City broadly. And the number of empty beds continues to grow despite hospital closures. A city analysis determined that, on average, 25 percent of beds were empty in 2012, and that number increased to 29 percent in 2014. But this is not about beds; this investment is about enhancing and improving services and care. This is the future of healthcare. We are transforming MSBI and how we deliver care because we believe it is the best way to continue to enhance and deliver comprehensive, high-quality services to the downtown community. We are proud to honor Mount Sinai Beth Israel’s commitment to the community as we move forward and we hope you will work with us as we continue to adapt to this new model of care to bring better services and better care to everyone. Somerville, a registered nurse, is president of Mount Sinai Beth Israel

JUNE 2-8,2016

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Thu 2

Fri 3

THE 33 ▲

MUSIC TO GREET THE SOLSTICE

Muhlenberg Library, 209 West 23rd St. 2 p.m. When a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days. Based on a real-life event. 212-924-1585. www.nypl. org/locations/muhlenberg

AMERICAN DANCE INSTITUTE The Kitchen, 512 West 19th St. Various Over ﬁve weeks in this summer, ADI will premiere ﬁve new works at the The Kitchen 212-255-5793. www. thekitchen.org/

Merchant’s House Museum, 29 East Fourth St. 7 p.m. $25; $15 for members, seniors and students. Reservations required. A musical interlude in the museum’s landmark Greek Revival double parlor. Music by Rossini, Brahms, Fauré, Duparc, Berlioz, Mendelssohn and others. 212-777-1089. merchantshouse.org/

‘ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS’ The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th St. 9:30 p.m. $10; members, free Louis Malle’s classic 1958

French crime ﬁlm, “Ascenseur pour l’echafaud,” starring Jeanne Moreau, with a soundtrack by Miles Davis. Introduced by documentary ﬁlmmaker Alison Klayman. 212-620-5000. rubinmuseum.org/

Sat 4 ART GALLERY TOUR Meet at 526 West 26th St., between 10th and 11th Avenues 1 p.m. $25 Visit seven modern art galleries in the world’s center for contemporary art — we ﬁnd and explain this month’s most fascinating exhibits in painting, sculpture, electronic media & photography. 917-250-0052. www. nygallerytours.com

FROM FREIGHT TO FLOWERS ◄ Gansevoort Street entrance, on the High Line at Gansevoort Street 10-11:15 a.m. Free Hear the story behind New York City’s park in the sky from knowledgeable High Line docents. 212-206.9922. www. thehighline.org/

JUNE 2-8,2016

Sun 5 NYC 5K SCHLEP Robert F Wagner Jr. Park, 20 Battery Pl. 9-10:30 a.m. Adults, $36; children, cancer-free survivor, $18. 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness and funds to eradicate breast and ovarian cancer. Sponsored by the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center. 212-279-2522. afrmc.kintera. org/schlep16

THE YIDDISH WALK OF FAME Tour begins at the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 12th Street. 10:45 am. $25-$30. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold on site. Elissa Sampson to explore the roots of American theater and popular culture through a tour of historic sites along Second Avenue. Stops will include the Yiddish Arts Theatre,, Cafe Royale, oyale, the Yiddish Rialto Starwalk tarwalk and the Community Synagogue. ynagogue. Length of the tour will ill be about half a mile. 212-534-1672. www.mcny. org/event/yiddish-theaterg/event/yiddish-theaterwalking-tour alking-tour

Mon 6

INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE BOOK CLUB McNally-Jackson Books, 52 Prince St. 7 p.m., the International Fiction Book Club, led by Sarah McNally, will discuss â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wide Sargasso Seaâ&#x20AC;? by Jean Rhys. 212-274-1160. www. mcnallyjackson.com

Tue

TAI CHI WORKSHOP Chelsea Rec Center, 430 West 25th St. 10 a.m. Free RSVP Required! 212-255-3705. teresa. cuevas@parks.nyc.gov

WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL Washington Square Park, main stage south of Fifth Avenue, Rainspace: NYUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 West 4th St. 8 p.m.

Brahms, Vivaldi, & Nielsen, the opening free orchestral concert of

the Washington Square Music Festivalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 58th season, features two concertos: Brahms Double Concerto in A minor and Vivaldiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Concerto for two trumpets. The Festival is under the auspices of the Washington Square Association, Inc. Seating is on a ďŹ rst-come, ďŹ rst served basis. Festival info line: 212-252-3621 www. washingtonsquaremusicfestival. org

Wed

COMMUNITY BOARD 4 Cameo Studios â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 307 W 43rd Street, Studio B 6:30 p.m. Clinton\Hellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kitchen Land Use Committee 212-736-4536

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A TASTE OF SUMMER Bestheda Terrace in Central Park, at 72nd Street 7 p.m.-11 $400 and upp p pp.m. $ Taste of Summer brings together more than 800 guests each June under the stars in Central Park for a distinctive kickoff to summer in New York City. 212-446-2242. centralparknyc.org

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Catch Up. Get Ahead. Summer Courses at CUNY Register Today! cuny.edu/summer It Is Not Too Late!

BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, MATHEMATICS, PSYCHOLOGY, PHYSICS, SOCIOLOGY, EDUCATION, ENGLISH, ECONOMICS, ACCOUNTING, SPEECH, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HISTORY

CLASSES BEGIN:

June 6

AND MANY MORE

City College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Queens College, School of Professional Studies, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Queensborough Community College Hunter College, Queens College, Queensborough Community College

June 27

York College, LaGuardia Community College

July 11

Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, New York City College of Technology, Queensborough Community College

July 18

Baruch College, Hunter College, Lehman College

July 1

July 19

Lehman College

July 5

Borough of Manhattan Community College, Kingsborough Community College

July 12 August 1

Kingsborough Community College John Jay College of Criminal Justice

2016

JUNE 2-8,2016

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FAIRS & FESTIVALS NYCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST + MOST FLEXIBLE

SUMMER DAY CAMPS

SPACE IS LIMITED. REGISTER TODAY! Camps run June 20 - September 2 # " # ! !

RIBS AND ROOTS BLUES BBQ

Free Aug. 20. 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pier 97 at 55th St. www.hudsonriverpark.org After a great Blues BBQ last year, Hudson River Park is moving uptown to its new location at Pier 97 for the 17th annual Hudson River Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blues BBQ Festival. Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best Blues and Roots musicians, including the Bernard Allison Group, the Sugaray Raymond Band and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band will join with some of New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite BBQ restaurants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Arrogant Swine, Dinosaur BarB-Que, Fort Gansevoort BBQ and Mighty Quinnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Barbecue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for great day of food, music and fun on the Hudson River.

Photo credit Amber Star Merkens

FREE ARTS FESTIVAL RIVER TO RIVER FESTIVAL Free More than 30 events at various locations June 16-June 26 http://lmcc.net/program/ river-to-river The annual River to River Festival, one of Lower Manhattanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature art

SUMMER CAMP

events features 30 events and more than 90 artists over 11 days at downtown spots, including Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island. Live experiences include intimate and provocative dance, music, visual art, and new media projects in public parks, at historic landmarks and along the waterfront. Guests can socialize with festival artists, partners, and fellow art-lovers. an 25 indoor and outdoor to the East River

BASTILLE DAY IN NEW YORK FRENCH STREET FAIR

212.336.6846 chelseapiers.com/camps

Free Sunday, July 10 Noon to 5 p.m. E. 60th St. from Fifth Ave. to Lexington Ave. www.bastilledayny.com Celebrate Franceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national holiday with our allies at New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ultimate street fair! You

can eat crepes and eclairs and sip French wines, as you and the family enjoy performances by Can-Can dancers and pop singers, fencing demonstrations, the Hungry

March Band, and more. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face painting, arts & crafts, cooking classes, mime acts for les enfants, and a vintage CitroÃ«n car show.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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The 171st Dutchess County Fair Rhinebeck, NY

August 23 - August 28 SALSA TO GO PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE

PARTY TIME IN CHELSEA GENERATION BRIDGE WHITE PARTY $75 to Saturday, June 25. 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Avenue 116 Tenth Avenue

SWEED-NESS AND LIGHT SWEDISH MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL Free Friday, June 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Robert F. Wagner Park and Pier A Plaza Battery Park City www.swedenabroad.com The Swedish Midsummer Festival, presented by Battery Park City Parks and co-hosted by the Consulate General of Sweden, will once again take place in Battery Park City in downtown Manhattan. A great family event featuring picnics on the grass, as well as a chance to decorate the midsummer pole, make ﬂower wreaths, play traditional games and dance to authentic ﬁddle music.

FOOD FESTIVAL ALONG THE GREAT WHITE WAY TASTE OF TIMES SQUARE Free admission. Taste tickets are $1 each. Monday, June 6. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. 46th St., between Broadway

646-323-6180 www.soulnightevents.com It’s pricey, but it’s a delightful night of dancing, hors d’oeuvres and mingling with the hip and trendy. Music is an eclectic mix of Reggae, Soca and Makossa, hip hop and R&B. General admission starts at $75 and goes to $1,500 for a party of eight with bottle service.

and 10th Ave. www.timessquarenyc.org More than 50 restaurants will share their ﬁnest tastes from around the world at this annual outdoor food and music festival in the heart of the famed Restaurant Row. h Street from Broadway all the way to 10th Avenue. Festival admission is free. Each “taste” ticket is $1 with dishes ranging from 2-6 tickets. Tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the event and in advance online.

A GREAT MONTH IN HARLEM HARLEM WEEK Free Various locations July 31- Aug. 27 www.harlemweek.com Harlem Week – Harlem Month, actually – kicks off on July 31 with a “Great Day in Harlem” celebration featuring dance companies, gospel choirs and a fashion show. Children’s Days will be held Aug. 15 and 16 featuring with dance performances from tap to step to hip hop, story-telling and other fun activities. An outdoor ﬁlm festival is scheduled for Aug. 20 and Aug 27, and sporting events with pro and amateur athletes taking part.

Free Sunday June 12. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fifth Ave. from 44th to 79th sts. www.nprdpinc.org New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and actress Rosario Dawson will be among those honored when the National Puerto Rican Day Parade steps off on Fifth Ave., before a crowd of an estimated 1.5 million ﬂagwaving revelers. Anthony, whose father was Puerto Rican, will be the festival king, while Dawson, whose mother is Puerto Rican, will preside as queen. There will be tens of thousands of marchers shimmying and shaking their way uptown, along with musical quests.

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Tuesday - August 23 - 7:30pm Wednesday - August 24 - 7:30pm

SPLASHING AROUND WATERFRONT DAY Free Saturday, July 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Governor’s Island and Maxwell Place Park in Hoboken www.waterfrontalliance. org Now in its ninth year, the Waterfront Alliance’s City of Water Day is a free, family-oriented celebration of all the great things to do along the New York and New Jersey that has become one of the region’s biggest harbor festivals. Thousands of people take part in free boat tours on all kinds of vessels, rowing and paddle-boarding, not to mention the popular Con Edison Cardboard Kayak Race. There’s also a Waterfront Activity Fair and a Children Activities Fair offer something for the whole family. Rain or shine, though some on-water activities could be postponed in case of lightning or thunderstorms.

(The Original Tribute to the Eagles) Friday - August 26 - 7:30pm

FAIR SPECIALS! Tues. Aug. 23 - $10 ALL DAY Admission Wed. Aug. 24 - $25 RIDE ALL DAY Wrist Band Thurs. Aug. 25 - $7 Admission After 5pm

JUNE 2-8,2016

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MUSIC & THEATER FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SERIOUS JAZZ

SOHO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

$45 to $55 The Blue Note 131 W. 3rdth St. June 9-12 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. www.bluenote.net Renowned Cuban-born trumpeter Arturo Sandoval

Individual shows $15. Weeklong passes $150 to $350 June 9 – June 15 Village East Cinema 189 Second Ave. www.sohofilmfest.com This week-long film fest has something for everyone with an eclectic mix of shorts, documentaries and full-length features such countries as the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and France. The series will be spread across a week and several auditoriums at the Cinema Village East, the old Yiddish Theater on the Lower East Side. Organizers engaged filmmakers, journalists and cineastes from around the world in an attempt

ARTURO SANDOVAL

BROADWAY IN THE PARK to draw audiences to New York City for this series, which will include screenings, panels and social events. Some of the more provocative titles include, “What We’ve Become,” “Mommy’s Box,” “79 Parts and “Traslacion: The March to the Altar of Uncertainty.”

summer season june 18 – august 7

High art. Casual fun.

Jazz / Roots / Opera / Classical / Food + Drink / Kids & Families / Gardens / more

BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK FREE The Lawn at W. 40th St. and Fifth Ave. Thursdays from July 7 – Aug. 11. 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. http://www.bryantpark.org

Tickets & Info 914.232.1252 caramoor.org

plays a four-day gig at Downtown’s legendary Blue Note jazz club as part of the popular Blue Note Jazz Festival, which runs the entire month of June at the Blue note and other venues, including Town Hall. While still in Cuba, Sandoval, was inﬂuenced by the music of Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Clifford Brown. A proliﬁc songwriter and live performer, he was able to tour with Bring a blanket or pull up a chair and enjoy performances by some of the best shows Thursday afternoons through the summer. Broadway in Bryant Park will showcase numbers from recent and past Tony Award-winning musicals. Check website for performance schedule. 2015 shows included Stomp, Wicked, Finding Neverland, Kinky Boots, Beautiful, Something Rotten and Les Miserables.

Gillespie and others, before defecting from Cuba in 1999. He’ll play two shows a night during the festival, and if you love jazz, he’s an act you don’t want to miss.

ROCKING ON RANDALL’S ISLAND PANORAMA Three-day passes start at $369; Daily passes $125 Randall’s Island Park July 22 – July 24 www.panoramanyc Goldenvoice, the promoters of the world-famous Coachella

music festival in Indio, Calif., presents this all-day rock music festival across three days with more than 60 acts in Randall’s Island Park. Performers include LCD Sound System, Arcade Fire, Alabama Shakes, Kendrick Lamar, and Run the Jewels. Passholders also get a free admission ticket to the Queens Museum and the exhibition about the Ramones, the legendary rock group with Queens Roots.

YOUR FOOD SCRAPS at GREENMARKET

Drop off household fruit and vegetable scraps at select Greenmarkets citywide. For details, locations, and hours visit GrowNYC.org/Compost

It’s easy to get here! Free parking / Free Metro-North Katonah Shuttle supported by

212.788.7964 Recycle@GrowNYC.org GrowNYC.org/Compost

JUNE 2-8,2016

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KIDS

SERIOUS ART FOR TEENS

INTENSIVE ART PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT $750 for month-long daily course July 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; July 31. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 6 River Terrace www.bpcparks.org This course is designed for serious art students to help them advance their creative skills, learn more about being a professional artist, and develop an art portfolio for applying to specialized art high schools or colleges. Each week, students will explore fundamentals of art and design by creating works of art in drawing, painting, printmaking and more. Students will increase observational and expressive skills by working on site in Battery Park City Park, and take advantage of New York Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural offerings through visits to museums and galleries. Registration required. Call 212-267-9700 or email registration@bpcparks.org

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES FAMILY FRIDAYS Free Fridays from July 8 to Aug. 19. Movies begin at dusk, approximately 8:30 p.m. Pier 46, Greenwich Village www.hudsonriverpark.org This family-friendly movie series, presented by the Hudson River Park Trust, is a great way to spend Friday night with the kids outdoors. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movies include, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Minion,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Peanuts Movie,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kung Fu Panda 3,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Penguins of Madagascar,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Goosebumps and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Princess Bride. Popcorn is free at this popular ďŹ lm series, and you can buy beverages and snacks while enjoying the movie.

RUNNING AND STUFF CITYPARKS TRACK & FIELD Free July 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Aug. 10 Mondays and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 10:30 for ages 5 to 7; 10:30 to Noon for kids ages 8 to 16 East River Park Montgomery St. to E. 12th St. and the FDR City Parks Foundation www.cityparksfoundation. CityParks Track & Field gives kids the chance to learn the basics of the sport, from hurdles and relay races to long jump, shot put and javelin throw. They offer weekly lessons with experienced instructors and free use of equipment. The program is open to boys and girls ages 5-16 and runs July and August at East River Park and various other parks throughout the ďŹ ve boroughs. Activities includes long jump, shot put, hurdles, discus, javelin, and track. All registered, participating kids can display their new skills at an organized track meet held at Icahn Stadium on Randallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Island at the end of the summer.

VIEW FROM A CASTLE BELVEDERE CASTLE Free Mid- Central Park at 79th Street Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. http://www.centralparknyc. org

What a place for a castle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and what a castle it is. Named for the Italian meaning â&#x20AC;&#x153;beautiful view,â&#x20AC;? Central Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Belvedere Castle offers park goers exactly what its name implies. It has two balconies that provide panoramic views of the Great Lawn, the Ramble and the Delacorte Theater. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where the National Weather Service takes daily measurement

measurements from the castleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tower with scientiďŹ c instruments that determine wind speed and direction. You and your kids can use the castleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ eld packs that contain binoculars, reference materials, maps and a notepad to jot down observations. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a great place to bird-watch and look for a hawk, kestrel or osprey.

G REEN MA RKET D RO P - OFFS FOR C L O T H I N G , S H O ES , TEXTILES

Drop clean and dry clothing, paired shoes, linens, handbags, belts, and other reusable textiles at select Greenmarkets citywide and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep them out of the landfill.

Cool off this summer with a delicious frozen treat from Mamitaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ice! WHAT MAKES US GREAT... We use cane sugar and real fruit! A great frozen treat that is healthy!

For a list of our products and retail locations log on to our website: 212.788.7964 Recycle@GrowNYC.org GrowNYC.org/Clothing

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JUNE 2-8,2016

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HEALTH & WELLNESS OUT OF TOWN FITNESS A WEEK OF DANCING AND FITNESS TAI CHI DOWNTOWN NYC DANCE WEEK

TAI CHI CLASS

Free and discounted classes available Various times and locations across the city June 16 to June 25 www.nycdanceweek.org NYC Dance Week (www.nycdanceweek.org) collaborates with noted studios in New York City to celebrate the joy and diversity of dance with an exhilarating 10-day festival of free dance, ﬁtness and wellness classes. Participants are encouraged to experience dance as part of an active, healthy lifestyle. The event attracts thousands of people and is being held at a variety of venues throughout New York City. Nearly 40 local studios partner with the organization each year to increase public awareness.

Free Tuesdays all summer long. 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Garibaldi Plaza Washington Square Park Sarah.neilson@parks.nyc.gov Dress comfortably and bop on down to Washington Square Park for these hour-long Tai Chi classes that are good for your body and soul. Tai Chi is a Chinese system of slow meditative physical exercise designed for relaxation, balance and health. More than just a ﬁtness system or sport, Tai Chi it is a philosophy expressed graceful and contemplated in a series of graceful movements. So chill out and come on down.

HEALTH AND RACE WALKING WALK, DON’T RUN

KAYAK THE HUDSON KAYAKING Some programs are free Various piers along the Hudson http://www.hudsonriverpark. org All season long, the Hudson River Park Trust oversees kayaking spots along the River, from TriBeCa to Clinton. Pier 26 in TriBeCa offers free kayaking on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In July and August, the free kayaking program is extended to include weekday evenings from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Similar programs are available at Piers 40, 66, 84 and 96, along with lessons and tours. Check website for individual programs at each pier.

Free Central Park Conservancy North Meadow Recreation Center, mid-Park at 97th Street Saturday mornings. 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. http://www.centralparknyc. org 212-348-4867. Moderate to brisk walks led by the NY Walkers Club for

people 18 years and older of all abilities. This low-impact ﬁtness program is perfect for those who want to get in shape, build muscle tone, strength and increase cardiovascular health while enjoying Central Park’s beautiful landscapes. Clinics are held every Saturday morning from 9:30am11:00am at the North Meadow Recreation Center. Free. No pre-registration required and open to all abilities. Rain or shine, except for extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, sustained winds of 30mph or more, or heat index above 95 degrees.

OCEANFRONT LUXURY GURNEY’S MONTAUK $288 - $1,192 290 Old Montauk Highway Montauk, N.Y. www.gurneysmontauk.com Gurneys is the granddaddy of East End spas and resorts, offering a dizzying variety of accommodations, spa packages, restaurants

PRETTY IN THE POCONOS SHAWNEE SPA AND GOLF RESORT Weekend packages start at $165 per person 100 Shawnee Inn Drive Shawnee on Delaware, Pa. www.shawneeinn.com The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort offers great

ROMANTIC GETAWAY THE SPA AT NORWICH INN Daily rates from $155 per person; packages available 607 West Thames St. Norwich, Conn. www.thespaatnorwichinn.com

and more for some 90 years. Back in the 50s, it was just a 20-room inn, until Nick Monte bought the place and transformed it into a spectacular spa. The new owners took over three years ago and have kept up the tradition while renovating 38 oceanfront rooms. There are ﬁve top-notch restaurants, dreamy spa treatments and this year they’ve teamed up with Paddle Diva Watersports to offer a variety of beach and water activities. And their 2,000-foot oceanfront beach boast neighbors like Robert De Niro and Edward Albee.

golf on a ﬁnely manicured 18-hole course and a variety of massages and spa treatments on its expansive grounds on the Delaware River, just 70 miles from New York City and 2 miles from the Delaware Water Gap. Its website touts its “atmosphere of old world charm,” and 103 guest rooms, no two of which are exactly alike. There’s a business center – if you must work -- an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, a sandy beach, a state-of-the-art ﬁtness center and tennis, bocci and volleyball courts.

The Spa at Norwich Inn is a not-too-expensive romantic getaway in southeastern Connecticut. The basic retreat starts at $155 per person and includes breakfast and dinner, use of the spa and its steam room and sauna, as well as morning walks. The FridaySaturday “Spaliday” is $298 per person, but includes $100

in a spa credit. There are also tennis and golf packages – and the resort is a short drive from great attractions like the Lake of Isles Golf Courses, Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Mohegan Sun Casino. There are also lots of vineyards nearby and Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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NYUSPS SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSES

In as Little as One Week, Acquire the Skills to Differentiate Yourself in the Marketplace This summer, the NYU School of Professional Studies is offering a wide array of professionally focused intensives. Whether your goal is to excel in the competitive job market, to expand your overall marketability by mastering a new skill, or to embark on a journey of personal enrichment, these courses afford the tools and the knowledge base you need to succeed!

Areas of Specialty Include Accounting • Arts • Construction • Design • English Language • Film • Finance • Global Affairs Grantmaking • Hospitality • Humanities • Law • Leadership • Marketing • Philanthropy and Fundraising • Public Relations • Real Estate • Technology • Translation • Writing

Learn from the Pros. Network with Industry Peers. Register Today: sps.nyu.edu/summerintensives04 • 212-998-7150 Information: sps.info@nyu.edu • 212-998-7200

JUNE 2-8,2016

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ROAD TRIPS REAL ROAD TRIPS DRIVING NEW YORK www.newyorkupstate.com If you really want a road trip – across scenic upstate New York and through small towns and historic places, jump in the car and try one of these routes, as suggested and richly detailed on newyorkupstate. com. Lots of family fun along the way and plenty of places to stay, eat and enjoy some

time away from the city. One featured trip is an east-to-west US Route 20 trip with 14 stops between Albany and Buffalo, including such sights as a giant TePee or life-sized dinosaur statues. Or there’s NY Route 30 through the Catskills with stop-offs to enjoy the scenery, climb some mountains or shops for antiques. The helpful website also suggests trips along Thousand Island Seaway trail or a Route 80 jaunt from Montgomery County to Sherburne.

te a i c e r App

The Hudson Valley

A DAY -- OR THREE -AT THE RACES > SARATOGA RACE TRACK General admission $5. Clubhouse admission $8. New York Racing Association 267 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY July 22-Sept. 5 www.saratogaracetrack.com (518) 584-6200 Watch horse racing at its best – and stay awhile. Though it’s just a two-hour drive up Interstate 87 to beautiful, quaint, Saratoga Springs, you should plan on spending a few days to soak up the atmosphere at the track, enjoy great dining and shopping in town and explore the history of this great, colorful town and its cast of characters from the days of Damon Runyon through today. You can shop and eat before or after the races, which are held every day but Tuesday. Post time is generally 1 p.m. The 2016 Meet – full of big-stakes races and the fastest horses around -- begins on July 22 with an Opening Day Celebration, and concludes on September 5. Get in on the action!

COUNTRY MUSIC JAMBOREE TASTE OF MUSIC COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL AT HUNTER MOUNTAIN Daily passes $109; three-day pass $199. Camping access slightly higher June 10 through June 12 Hunter Mountain Route 23A, Hunter Mountain, N.Y. www.tasteofcountryfestival.com (855) 821-9208 Kenney Chesney, Jake Owen and Kid Rock headline this three-day country music festival at Hunter Mountain that is just too good to miss. Additional artists include Gary Allen, Big & Rich, Frankie Ballard, Eric Paslay, Old Diminion, Neal McCoy, The Swon Brothers, the Cadillac Three, Jana Kramer, Chris Janson, Outshyne, and Annie Bosko! There are many camping options available whether you want to pitch a tent or bring your RV. Check out the website for more information including VIP package details and hotel accommodations.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Sit e

BATTER UP NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

r for Cente Fisher s ing Art Per form Bannerman Castle

STILL ROCKIN’ AT WOODSTOCK

FREE TIME? Actually, it’s priceless. Make sure you’re spending it wisely. You don’t need a whole week to the Hudson Valley.

BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

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About an hour from NYC by car, bus or train.

DistinctlyDutchess dutchesstourism.com/travel-itineraries

Fireball Run is coming!

Check website for dates and ticket prices of summer concerts Liberty, N.Y. about 90 miles north of New York City www.bethelwoodscenter.org Bethel, the real home of the original Woodstock music festival, keeps the music going outside Woodstock, which unabashedly bills itself as “the most famous small town in the world.” It’s a great area to spend a few relaxing days and hear some great music from stars of yesterday and today. This summer’s lineup includes Hall and Oates on June 18; The Doobie Brothers on June 24; Steely Dan on July 9; The Beach Boys and The Temptations on July 15, and Aretha Franklin on July 29. And of course there’s plenty to do and see in Woodstock.

$12 to $23 25 Main St. Cooperstown 2016 Hall of Fame Weekend July 22- 25 Open 7 days a week. Summer hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. http://www.baseballhalloffame.com (607) 547-2044 Located in picturesque Cooperstown, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the country’s most popular destinations. First opened in 1939, it holds all of the game’s great treasures from Abner Doubleday to the present, including salutes to the old Negro Leagues and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The 2016 Hall of Fame Weekend will be held July 22-25, with the annual Induction Ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 24 at 1:30 p.m. Ken Griffey Jr. and Mets catcher Mike Piazza will become the 311th and 312th members inducted into the Hall of Fame. Admission to the Ceremony is free and the Ceremony will be broadcast live on MLB Network. More than 50 Hall of Famers are expected.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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DAY TRIPS IT’S A ZOO IN NEW JERSEY Credit Arturo Paradavila III

TURTLE BACK ZOO Adults: $14. Children and seniors $10. pau Zoological Society brown of New Jersey Credit 560 Northﬁeld Avenue, West Orange, NJ. Daily, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. www.turtlebackzoo.com (973) 731-5801 This 18-acre zoo just 19 miles outside Manhattan, was originally a showcase for animals indigenous to New Jersey, but it now holds features species from every continent except Antarctica including -- new this year, sea lions. You can hike through a natural area of oak, hickory and maple trees and meet such animals as the bobcat, porcupine, falcon, turkey vulture, bald eagle, penguins, wolves, alligators, bears, monkeys, reptiles, otters and animals of the Great Plains. They also offer birthday party celebrations at the Endangered Species Carousel, the Gazebo and the Picnic Area.

A CASTLE ON THE HUDSON BANNERMANN CASTLE Check website for tour dates and prices, which generally start at $35 Glenham, N.Y. 845-834-4200 http://www.bannermancastle. org Bannerman Castle sits on an island that dates back to the Dutch and was a reputed meeting ground for 19th century hookers and their clients. A Scottish-style and armory rose on the once supposedly haunted island in the early 20th century, but was mostly destroyed by an explosion many years ago. It’s still a popular tourist attraction with some special events, like a Bannerman Wine and Cheese Cruise on June 10 and the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival on July 23 and July 24. A 90-minute train ride from Grand Central Terminal to Beacon will get you to a ferry to Pollepel Island for one of the weekend tours. The name Pollepel originated with a legend about a young girl named (Polly) Pell who was rescued from the breaking river ice and brought ashore, where she married the man who saved her.

TANDEM SKYDIVING SKYDIVE NEW JERSEY $195 per person 70 Airport Rd. Pittstown NJ Open daily. http://www.skydivejersey.com “Prepare to have your mind blown,” their web site proclaims. Tandem skydiving in New Jersey bills itself as the safest, most exciting, and easiest way to experience the rush of a free-fall. There’s about an hour of training to pick up the skills to participate in this ride of a lifetime. The package includes a 20- minute plane ride overviews of the scenic Delaware River and the Manhattan and Philadelphia skylines before you are attached to your instructor’s safety harness. There’s 50 seconds of free fall, followed by about a 10-minute descent capped by a gentle landing in the ﬁeld adjacent to their facility.

DOWN THE SHORE A DAY AT THE SHORE Jersey Shore towns from Sandy Hook to Wildwood All summer long www.newjerseyshore.com

Jump in the car, hop on the Jersey Shore Ferry or grab a ride on New Jersey transit and head down the Shore for a day – or longer – with your beach chairs, sandals, beach umbrellas, and suntan lotion for a day in the sun. From the relative quiet of Sandy Hook to the family-fun

towns like Manasquan and on LBI, to the honky-tonk of Seaside Heights, Asbury Park, Atlantic City and Wildwood, the Jersey Shore has something for everyone, including ﬁshing day trips, rock concerts or just quite strolls along the beach or boardwalk.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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SENIORS

LET’S GO TO THE HOP SOCK HOP SUNDAYS $15 June 19, June 26, July 17 and Aug. 7. 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Iguana Café Upstairs 240 W. 54th St. www.sockhopsundays.com Sock Hop Sundays have been rocking around since 2004, and while it’s not just for seniors, 1950s/60s Rock-n-Roll, Doo Wop, Soul and Motown, do appeal to a certain age group. Organizers say they get about 150 at each dance, with two DJs who play the original 50s & 60s tunes -- and are happy to take requests. You don’t need a partner and you don’t need to know how to dance to have a great time at this super-friendly super friendly event.

ROLLING AROUND CENTRAL PARK

SPLASHING AROUND CHELSEA

SKATE DANCING IN CENTRAL PARK

SENIOR SPLASH

Credit Dan4th Nicholas

Free. Memberships $26 and up Association Central Park Skate Dancers Associatio Skate Circle in Sheep Meadow at 69th St. Most weekends 2:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. p. www.cpdsa.org Age is no barrier to taking part in tthese free skates, held most weekends weekends. There’s DJ music and it’s a great w way to get exercise and make new ffriends. The Central Park Skate Dancers D Association mana manages these sessions, in partnership with the NYPD, the Parks Department and the Central Park C Conservancy.

ISABELLA HOUSE Independent Living for Older Adults Our amenities include: • Spacious studios and one-bedroom apartments starting at $2,400.00 per month • Complimentary Lunch and Dinner served buffet style • Basic Cable TV • All utilities included • 24-Hour Security • Weekly linen service • Visitor parking • Pastoral services • A wealth of programs, activities and trips • Conveniently located near medical, physical therapy, occupational therapy and psychiatric services • On-site beauty salon, library, gift shop, laundry, check-cashing facilities and visitor parking • Moderately priced lodging for overnight guests

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SENIOR MOVEMENT SUMMER ON THE HUDSON: SENIOR MOVEMENT Free The Plaza at 66th St. Riverside Park South Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Riverside Park Conservancy http://www.nycgovparks.org The Riverside Park Conservancy hosts this Summer on the Hudson with “Dances for a Variable Population” master teacher Naomi Goldberg Haas and members of the intergenerational company as they lead Variable Pop, a dance workshop for seniors of all ages and abilities. It’s a great way to learn how to move in strong and creative ways – and to make new friends and socialize. This class is similar to their Senior Dance class in West Harlem Piers Park.

KEEP ON DANCING DANCE FOR LIFE

For more information and to schedule a private tour, please call: 212-342-9539

We’ve thought of everything to enrich and enhance your life. 525 Audubon Ave. at 191st Street. New York, NY

Free NYC Parks Department Asser Levy Pool, 23rd St. near the FDR July and August Monday through Friday. Check website for times http://www. nycgovparks.org The Asser Levy Pool – along with several others across the city – will again offer Senior Splash, for seniors 62 and older. Qualiﬁed instructors will put you through water exercise classes and offer swim lessons for seniors. Senior Splash helps alleviate pain, improve circulation, and promote healing and muscle development for those suffering from physical ailments resulting from injury, disease, or aging. You can register at the pool.

f fb.com/IsabellaOrg l twitter.com/IsabellaOrg x youtube.com/IsabellaOrg

Check website for class schedules and prices 92nd Street Y Lexington Ave. and 92nd St. www.92y.org The 92nd ST. Y’s Dance for Life program of gentle dance classes designed to stimulate the body and the spirit. Dancing is a great way to regain ﬂexibility and strength while learning new techniques to soothe the stress away. Movers, boomers and anyone who wants to get their groove back will ﬁnd a class to enjoy in Dance for Life. Classes are tailored to individual needs.

SENIOR PLANET THE SENIOR PLANET EXPLORATION CENTER Free. Donations accepted 127 W. 25th St., between Sixth and Seventh aves. Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.seniorplanet.org Senior Planet offer a variety of weekly presentations and workshops on topics relating to digital technology, along with seminars, talks, and social and cultural events. Check out the calendar for weekly offerings and to register for scheduled workshops, seminars and group sessions.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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Eiko Otake, A Body in a Station Fulton Center, River To River 2015 Photo credit: Darial Sneed

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HOMELESS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Residents must be enrolled in school or have a job (or both). They have household chores and a 10 p.m. curfew. AFC counselors make sure they’re seeing the doctors they need, help high school students apply to college, and college students find internships and prepare for the workplace. The staff in the transitional housing apartments also encourage residents to pay “rent,” a monthly deposit into a savings account to clients have a ﬁnancial cushion when they leave. Moore now lives in one of these apartments in Harlem, where he sleeps on a bunk bed in a bedroom facing Broadway. Through AFC, he’s had internships at the Museum of Modern Art and the TriBeCa Film Institute, and on the day we met, he had an interview at H&M, which he was conﬁdent he would nail. The apartment supervisor advised him to make our meeting brief so he wouldn’t be late. “The MTA is not our friend!” she said. Skye Adrian came to New York from Jamaica to study aerospace technology at Vaugh College in Queens, but when his parents found out he was gay just one semester into school, they stopped supporting him. When he could no longer live in the dorms, he started exchanging sex for shelter, food, and money. Adrian lives in the same apartment as Moore in an adjacent room, but because he’s not a U.S. citizen, he’s not able to work and doesn’t yet qualify for most student aid. He is, however, in the process of applying for asylum status through an organization AFC clients have access to called the Urban Justice Center, a legal assistance organization for groups of vulnerable New York City residents. In the meantime, he volunteers at ACT UP, a longstanding advocacy group for victims of HIV/AIDS. When his paperwork comes through, he wants to go back to school parttime to become an airline pilot. Besides the Ali Forney Center, several other organizations do a share of the work. Sylvia’s Place, a charity at Metropolitan Community Church on West 36th Street between Dyer and 10th Avenues, provides 14 emergency beds on a first-come, first-serve basis, plus case work services and a medical clinic provided by Columbia University residents on Wednesday evenings.

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On Christopher Street, Kate Barnhart, a long-time activist for the LGBT community with an arrest record to prove it (she has been part of a multitude of LGBT-rights-oriented protests in the 80’s and 90’s) runs a drop-in center for LGBT youths called New Alternatives, where she, an intern, and a few volunteers provide case work, meals, clothing, and toiletries to her clients out of the rectory of St. John’s Lutheran Church.

Queens. When asked to elaborate, he said, “Let’s just say the subway is a lot safer place to sleep.” William Moran-Berberena, the executive director of the church’s charity programs, agreed to an interview but would not allow a viewing of the space, and said they are still wary of media attention after the Times article. At Ali Forney, there is almost always a waiting list to get a

said. “It was like talking to a brick wall.” When Mayor de Blasio took office in January 2014, he committed to fund 100 new beds that year, and did so the following year as well. Since then he has also committed to add an additional 300 beds, bringing his total to an additional 500 since the Bloomberg administration, and bringing the grand total to 750 LGBT-dedicated beds.

Carl Siciliano, executive director of the Ali Forney Center

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished All of these organizations are plagued with problems. St. John’s church has asked Barnhart to vacate the space by the end of June because the church needs it for its own program. Barnhart doesn’t pay rent for the space, so she’ll have to ﬁnd somewhere else that will allow her to do the work in a similar low-cost way. Even when she does, she laments that once her organization is gone, there will be nearly no services for LGBT youths near where many of the more street-involved clients choose to spend time and sleep at the Christopher Street pier. Sylvia’s Place, too, has struggled; in 2011, The New York Times reported that it was overcrowded and lacked proper licensing, with clients sleeping on the ﬂoor. “I spent one night there and then got the hell out,” said Michael Polo, a homeless gay youth from

place to sleep that’s not a cot in the common room; if you’re 16–20 years old, the wait is about two weeks; if you’re 21–24, the wait can be as long as six months. On the day I ﬁrst spoke with Carl Siciliano, AFC’s executive director, there were 230 people on the waiting list. The problem is three-fold: first, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development doesn’t provide the Ali Forney Center (or any other organization) enough funding to get all homeless LGBT youths an immediate bed. In 2011, Siciliano and a group of LGBT advocates pushed the Bloomberg administration to commit to funding 100 additional beds per year for LGBT homeless youths until there were no more waiting lists, which fell on deaf ears. “Their response was to tell us who we should take money away from to give to homeless kids,” Siciliano

But of the 300 beds added thus far, 110 of them have gone to Covenant House, a sevenfloor complex spanning the distance of 10th Avenue between West 40th and 41st Streets that is not LGBT-exclusive and is known for being dangerous. Before finding the Ali Forney Center, Moore said he went to Covenant House and began filling out an intake form when he heard screaming in the vicinity. Eventually a fight broke out and a young man brandished a knife, at which point Moore abandoned the intake form and slept on the street. The federal Runaway Youth Act requires that shelter for people under the age of 18 be in units with 20 beds or less, but in an effort to get young people off the street, Covenant House has a waiver from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, the licensing body for shelters for minors,

that allows them to operate a youth shelter with many more beds per room than what is normally allowed. And although he is pleased that youths are getting a bed, Siciliano is critical of the state giving the funding to facilities like Covenant House that can house people immediately, rather than taking the time to look for providers who can house clients in a smaller, more home-like and nurturing way. “When you have 350 people in a facility, it’s just nothing like what it is when you’ve got 20 beds or less. It’s wildly divergent from what was intended and defined as safe and protective for young people. My concern is not so much with Covenant House, per se, but rather the city and state for being able to overlook that protective measure,” he said. Covenant House also recently came under ﬁre from a New York Times article on May 17 reporting on complaints that Covenant House was inﬂating the number of people it serves in order to secure a development deal with the city. Nancy Downing, the general counsel for Covenant House, was unavailable for comment, despite repeated requests. There is a particular dearth of beds for young adults aged 21–24. Though technically adults and essentially treated as such by the system, many are not developmentally equipped for adult shelters, which are part of an entirely different program run by the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS). Moran-Berberena said that while they technically are adults, many LGBT homeless people aged 21–24 still need youth services. “A lot of our clients are not ready to survive and fend for themselves. Many suffer from drug addiction, have been involved in sex work, and just don’t have the daily life skills that we take for granted.” The beds that are available for young people in the 21–24 age range are usually funded instead by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), but they only make up a small fraction of the total beds available, with the majority going to younger people. Barnhart called the city’s funding for 21–24-year-olds “anemic” and added, “Over the years there hasn’t been an investment in our homelessness infrastructure … It’s a reflection of the problem that people

just don’t care about the [LGBT homeless youth] population.”

Moving Forward Mark Zustovich, a representative for DYCD wrote in an email that a change in state law would be necessary for DYCD funding to go to beds designated for youths aged 21–24. In the meantime, he said, “The de Blasio administration is committed to expanding services to support this population in the DHS system.” The Ali Forney Center did, in fact, honor de Blasio at an event on April 27 for his work in expanding funding for LGBT homeless youth, to the extent that the law currently allows, but also pressed him to do more for those in the 21–24 age group. Adrian, who is nearing his 21st birthday, told the mayor that he wasn’t sure where he’ll go when he turns 21 and ages out of the DYCD-funded 16–20-year-old housing. The mayor later said at the event, “I really appreciate the focus today on young people in the 21 to 24-year-old range … You have also now gotten my full attention that there is more work to do … So, now I have a new mission – to go farther on that front.” A bill recently introduced in the New York legislature would raise the state’s deﬁnition of “homeless youth” to include persons under the age of 25. A group of seven senators from the Children and Families Committee will need to review the bill before allowing it be voted on in the Senate. While things may be looking up for some of those who are already homeless, the problem is larger than simply providing services for them. It rests, rather, in the fact that children from conservative backgrounds are being thrown out in the ﬁrst place. “Lately I’ve heard a lot of talk about ending LGBT youth homelessness,” Siciliano said. “I would love to end it too, but given how the numbers just keep going up, I think there are some basic trends in our society that are going to make this a tough problem to solve … I think the conservative religious communities feel more isolated from the mainstream and feel angrier, more disenfranchised and more likely to have hostile responses to their LGBT children. I don’t see that dynamic ending anytime soon. “As long as we see these veryoften religious-driven hostilities, this is going to continue to be a serious problem.”

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JUNE 2-8,2016

THE ART OF EVERYDAY LIFE Toys, tools, plates, ceramics and other objects on view at the New-York Historical Society are by turns whimsical and striking BY VIRGE RANDALL

One of the first collections of folk art — if not the first “official” collection — is the focus of an exhibit at the New-York Historical Society. “Making it Modern: The Folk Art Collection of Elie and Viola Nadelman” has an international flair but a local provenance. Perhaps homesick for the “peasant arts” of his native Poland, Elie Nadelman, an avant-garde artist, began acquiring antique items soon after arriving in New York City in 1914. With his 1919 marriage to Viola, a tobaccoheiress, the pair developed an ongoing obsession for antique ephemera of day-to-day life — children’s toys, cigar store displays, bridal boxes, antique tools and the like. They lived with their acquisitions in their East 93rd Street brownstone, according to the show’s co-curator, Roberta Olson, the Historic Society’s curator of drawings. Their shared passion for “peasant arts” of the Old World and the New soon outgrew their home, and in 1926 the couple moved their collection to Riverdale and established The Museum of Folk and Peasant Arts, the first public folk art collection in the United States, according to co-curator Margaret Hofer,

who is also the Historic Society’s museum director. The stock market crash and the Depression led the couple to sell pieces from the collection over the years. The Society purchased its entire collection of 15,000 pieces in 1937. The 200 items on view were chosen to show the intersection of folk art and the modernism typified by Nadleman’s work, examples of which are also included on loan. The show is a wildly diverse selection of tools, toys, store displays, paintings, plates, ceramics and household items, sharing exuberant colors, individuality, simple forms and whimsy. Items are arranged to emphasize the relationship between the simple and the playful, and Nadelman’s own sculptures of dancing ladies, circus girls and ringmasters (there’s more than a hint of Modigliani in the elongated forms of his ﬁgures). Much of the show’s charm, though, comes from the glimpse of the tools and amusements of daily life across six centuries and 13 different countries, plus some with a distinct New York City flavor. Standouts include a 19th century tobacco shop display figure rendered as a sailor. Alone among the four shop display figures in the show, the sailor most resembles an actual person, from his jaunty cap and beard to his casual stance in bell-bottom pants. The four intricately carved tobacco shop statues

are a nod to the art in commerce and to how Viola’s family made its money. (“And Elie was a smoker,” Olsen noted.) Also striking is a collection of about a dozen mostly American mechanical toys and banks, including one, inspired by Tammany Hall scandals, that activates once a coin in placed in the hand of the seated ﬁgure ... who puts it in his pocket. A selection of pottery and ceramics is remarkable. From a plate praising Andrew Jackson for president to a simple, and very modern, brown glazed plate that says “Apple Pie” — none would look out of place on Etsy. A touching collection of beautifully hand-drawn and painted paper dolls made by a Canadian mother for her children, showing women in period dress doing chores like hanging laundry is lovely. It took two years of surveying the collection of 15,000 objects to settle on the 200 items, and the curators were careful to include a crosssection from the meaningful — colorful bridal boxes and samplers — to the humdrum — clothespins, cheese strainers, even an early example of a roach hotel. All of the items, though, share detail in design, individuality, even verve. One of the Society’s goals was to make a significant contribution to the ﬁeld of folk art studies, but any visitor curious about day-today living of bygone eras will enjoy it too.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S AWAKENING

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FERTILE MIND

thoughtgallery.org NEW YORK CITY

Sorrows & Promises: Greenwich Village in the 1960s

THURSDAY, JUNE 2ND, 6:30PM

TO DO

Jefferson Market Library | 425 Ave. of the Americas | 212-243-4334 | nypl.org Bob Dylan may be north of 75 now, but the cultural and political repercussions of 1960s Greenwich Village continue to inform contemporary New York. Singer-songwriter Richard Barone will be joined by Marshall Crenshaw in a night of songs and stories recalling a seminal era. (Free)

BY GABRIELLE ALFIERO

When Robert Battle created “Awakening” for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, his first work as the company’s artistic director, he drew upon his experience of seeing a performance by the company as a child in Miami, but also considered his role and those who held it before him. “I was also thinking of leadership being somewhat of an awakening, almost like a baptism,” he said. “You know, that sense of being born out of the community, out of the collective.” Battle discusses the piece, which premiered last year, its bold lighting and the score by his friend John Mackey. “Awakening” is part of the company’s program at Lincoln Center from June 8-19.

The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life

TUESDAY, JUNE 7TH, 6:30PM China Institute | 100 Washington St. | 212-744-8181 | chinainstitute.org A Harvard professor shares his wildly popular course on classical Chinese philosophy for the ﬁrst time, showing how ancient ideas can serve as a guide to the good life today. ($15)

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For more information about lectures, readings and other intellectually stimulating events throughout NYC,

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH presents

THE PERFORMANCE The ﬁrst section is very chaotic, very disturbing almost, as if something cataclysmic had taken place, and then you see dancers running in different directions, not sure where they’re running to or running from. I think of that as a theme that we see nowadays in our own politics in our own country. In a sense of who is the enemy. But then the leader is born out of that chaos. Then the second section is almost the ritual of that rite of passage, of taking that mantle. So in that way it has a primal nature, a ritualistic nature.

THE SCORE This particular score, it’s [composer John Mackey’s] ﬁrst symphony for marching band, which I thought was a wonderful foray for him into something different and new in his work. And it reminds me very much at times of Stravinsky. Kind of fantastic, rhythmic, at some times primal, sultry. It has a folk kind of feel to it, some of the themes in the score. But it’s also at times abrasive and brash and I wanted that power, that power in the dance. What I often do with his music is I get the score, so I’m using it in my hand as I’m listening and

The Marble Community Gospel Choir in Concert Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Jamar Roberts in Robert Battle’s “Awakening.” Photo: Paul Kolnik I’m choreographing and it feels like you’re holding the words of the composer in your hand, like their diary or something. And then if I can follow that and try to reveal that to the audience along with my own narrative it works best that way for me.

IF YOU GO WHAT: “Awakening” by Robert Battle WHERE: David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza WHEN: June 15 at 7:30 p.m.; June 18 at 8 p.m. Tickets $25-$150 at 212496-0600 or alvinailey.org THE LIGHTING Before I really choreographed the dance, I let [lighting supervisor Al Crawford] have the music. So he went away and started to work on the lighting

in his own mind from hearing the score before he even saw the dance, which is something we don’t often do but we thought it would be fun to do it that way. And he thought that the lighting should be very much a presence, that it has its own language, that it wasn’t just about illuminating parts of the piece or where they are on stage. That’s a part of it, but it also makes its own statement. The backdrop really plays a part. In this ﬁrst section, he just has this sort of slit of light in the back that sort of represents hope perhaps, an awakening, a crack in the atmosphere, but then it closes before they can go through it, metaphorically speaking. And then the second section has hundreds of small lights so there are more cracks in the atmosphere, but it also represents the energy of the dancers. It’s almost as if those were other sort of souls that the light represents.

Stacy Penson, Director

Sunday, June 12 at 3:00pm

Admission: $20 at door | $15, students & seniors Save $5 by ordering in advance online at MarbleChurch.org

1 West 29th Street / New York, New York 10001 / 212 686 2770 / MarbleChurch.org

JUNE 2-8,2016

Our Town|Downtowner otdowntown.com

RESTAURANT INSPECTION RATINGS MAY 03 - 27, 2016 The following listings were collected from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website and include the most recent inspection and grade reports listed. We have included every restaurant listed during this time within the zip codes of our neighborhoods. Some reports list numbers with their explanations; these are the number of violation points a restaurant has received. To see more information on restaurant grades, visit http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/restaurant-grades.page Terroir At The Porch

Highline W 15Th Street @ 10Th Ave

The Taco Truck

Nka @ West 15Th Street

L’arte Del Gelato

Nka Highline Park-Bet 15-16 St By W/S Hwy

Melt Bakery

Nkn High Line Pk W 15Th St

La Sonrisa Empanadas

Nka Highline Park, West 15Th St

Brooklyn Sodaworks

West 15Th Street

Filaga

75 9Th Ave

Not Yet Graded (30) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer or thermocouple not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

The Joyce Theater

175 Eighth Avenue

Thai Rice And Noodle

165 W 23Rd St

Not Yet Graded (30) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

The Red Cat

227 10 Avenue

Empellon Cocina

105 1 Avenue

Grade Pending (2)

Headless Horseman

119 East 15 Street

Grade Pending (21) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewageassociated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

99 Cent Fresh Pizza

71 2Nd Ave

Semsom

740 Broadway

Grade Pending (22) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Fancy Juice

69 1St Ave

Coyote Ugly

153 First Avenue

Grade Pending (24) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

Momofuku Ssam Bar

207 2 Avenue

East 12Th Oste

197 1 Avenue

Simit And Smith

11 Waverly Pl

Black Ant

60 2 Avenue

Beans & Greens Kosher

121 W 19Th St

Liquiteria

170 2Nd Ave

Berlin Currywurst

75 9Th Ave

Robataya

231 E 9Th St

Lasagna Restaurant

196 8 Avenue

00+Co

65 2Nd Ave

Umami Shoppu

513 Avenue Of The Americas

Grade Pending (42) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Food Protection Certiﬁcate not held by supervisor of food operations. Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Not Yet Graded (25) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

The Central Bar

109 East 9 Street

Grade Pending (20) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/ sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.

News Bar

107 University Place

Ribalta

48 East 12 Street

Aziza’s Cafe & Lounge

45 1 Avenue

Park Bar

15 East 15 Street

Maharlika

111 First Ave

New Andy’s Deli

873 Broadway

Boka

9 Saint Marks Place

Think Coffee

123 4 Avenue

Grade Pending (19) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.

Subway

1 Irving Place

Chelsea Deli And Bakery

254 8Th Ave

Grade Pending (23) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked ﬁsh and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas. Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.

Just Salad

140 8Th Ave

Le Grainne Cafe

183 9 Avenue

Pierre Loti Cafe & Wine Bar 258 West 15 Street

Vivi Bubble Tea

170 West 23 Street

The Meatball Shop

200 9Th Ave

Hu Kitchen

78 5 Avenue

Grade Pending (17) Hot food item not held at or above 140º F. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

Virgola

28 Greenwich Ave

JUNE 2-8,2016

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YOUR 15 MINUTES

To read about other people who have had their “15 Minutes” go to otdowntown.com/15 minutes

THE DRAMA OF NEW YORK REAL ESTATE Q&A Michael Satow on acting in a show about one of our greatest passions BY HEATHER E. STEIN

In Manhattan, few subjects get more air time than real estate, so the idea of a Broadway show about a real estate broker seems like a no-brainer. “A Better Place,” now playing at the Duke, explores New Yorkers’ lust for real estate, and the envy that emerges when they realize they may not have enough. Michael Satow, one of the play’s actors, talks about his own path to the show and what he’s learned about real estate in New York.

What inspired you to be an actor? I think I’ve pretty much wanted to be an actor since I knew what that was. Maybe before. I have memories of watching movies when I was ﬁve years old, and asking my parents if I could be in the sequel. I remember doing q g that with “Terminator 2.” Why my parents let me watch that movie at five I have no idea. But I remember really latching on to the characters. And I asked my parents a few days later if I could be in “Terminator 3.” They said something like, “Um, sure, but we have no idea how to help you with that.” So I didn’t start acting in actual plays or anything until I was about 12.

This production is the world premiere of Wendy Beckett’s newest play. What is the rehearsal process like working on a brand-new show? We were blessed to have a long g rehearsal process for this play. I’m used to getting anywhere from two to three and a half weeks to put up a show, and I think on “A Better Place” we got close to ﬁve. It was a luxury. So we spent some time workshopping it, making sure we were all on the same page with the story. Evan

and Wendy would get together and discuss possible changes. It’s a great group of pros, the cast and creative team. Everyone was constantly coming in with ideas, but at the same time we had to go with the ﬂow as the play morphed. We spent a lot of time in the room trying to figure out the right tone. We’d spend a week coming at it as a broad, almost farce-like comedy. Then we’d spend a week making it really simple and intimate. As with many new plays, we had to find the style. I think we found a happy middle ground that allows the comedic beats their time to shine, while also letting things get smaller for the touching moments.

In the show you play opposite Carol, a 28-year-old only child with her father’s love of real estate but no desire to earn her own way in the world. What has it been like developing that working relationship with your co-star? I’d say about 90% of what I do in this play is try to seduce Carol. It often gets physical, and when that hap-

pens it becomes necessary to get very speciﬁc about what you’re doing. It’s just like stage combat. When you’re rolling around on the ﬂoor, you don’t want to take an elbow to the eye, so it all has to be worked out with precision. There was a lot of,, “Okay, can we stop for a second? Now, after I slap your ass, are you going to turn your head when you moan? And when you pinch my nipples, can you hold them for just a beat longer?” It requires a lot of specificity, as well as the ability to keep a straight face.

Did you have any previous experience with real estate or the world of brokers before joining the cast? I have never been a broker, but like most New Yorkers, I’ve had plenty of experience in the world of real estate. It’s something that comes up all the time in conversation. Where do you live? How’s the neighborhood? An elevator? Wow! Laundry in the building? I hate you. How much is your rent? Don’t talk to me, I pay

twice that for a studio. It’s standard cocktail party fare. I do know several actors who have either become brokers or do it on the side to supplement their income. I think it’s a world that an actor can do well in. You have to be able to read people, and the most effective brokers I’ve seen are able to paint a picture for you or sell you on a story, instead of just the four walls.

The play explores its characters’ all-toofamiliar impulse to keep an eye on what the neighbors are up to. Have you ever seen something interesting through a neighbor’s window? Oddly enough, I had never really had an experience with this, until the night before the ﬁrst rehearsal for this play. I was getting ready for bed, and I looked out the window. Across the way, there was a woman sitting by her window, sipping from her mug, just staring at me. Just sipping and watching. I took it as a good omen.

Where in NYC are you living? Have you seen things differently at home now that you have done this play? My wife and I have lived up in Washington Heights for a couple of years now. It’s quiet, away from the hustle and bustle, and there’s just a bit more space. We like to call it Upstate Manhattan. We hear birds in the spring, and not just pigeons! Yesterday morning there was an enormous hawk outside our kitchen window. I mean huge. And our window was wide open. It made this loud screech and ﬂew away. But I’ve stayed all over the city. Inwood, East Harlem, Queens (where I was born), Murray Hill, Clinton Hill, even Far Rockaway. I think it’s a major point of this play, and is true in life, that you always have to sacri-

ﬁce for the things you want. It could be a smaller space for better views, or working two jobs to live in a “hot” neighborhood.

Living in a city that’s saturated with real estate brokers, did you feel a certain pressure portraying one on stage? As I said, I’ve met my share of brokers, and I’m friends with several of them. I think brokers that come to see this show probably have a sense of humor about their profession, and have heard all the clichés. I play brokers with varying levels of expertise and to varying levels of absurdity. It’s my hope that people (both brokers and civilians) will recognize certain characteristics they’ve seen in their own apartment hunting. Probably not the sex scenes, but you never know.

What advice can you give New Yorkers when it comes to their real estate broker and what they see out their window? Know what your priorities are. Ask questions. Don’t feel pressured if you’re not positive. There are plenty of apartments in the city. You may look at 50, or just one. You know when you’ve found the place. And if you look out your window and see me, give me a wave, I’m used to it now. “A Better Place” runs through June 11 at The Duke at 229 W. 42nd St., between 7th and 8th avenues. For more information, go to abetterplaceplay.com

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“I WISH SOMEONE WOULD HELP THAT HOMELESS MAN.”

BE THE SOMEONE. Sam New York Cares Volunteer

Every day, we think to ourselves that someone should really help make this city a better place. Visit newyorkcares.org to learn about the countless ways you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.

JUNE 2-8,2016

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BE THE SOMEONE. Every day, we think to ourselves that someone should really help make this city a better place. Visit newyorkcares.org to learn about the countless ways you can volunteer and make a difference in your community.

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An open le er from Mount Sinai Health System

We wanted to let you know about some exciting news for the downtown community: Mount Sinai Health System just announced our plans to invest $500 million to create the new “Mount Sinai Downtown,” an expanded network of state-of-the-art facilities river to river below 34th Street.

This exciting transformation will take place over four years. In the meantime, Mount Sinai Beth Israel remains open, and all services will be available within our System. Over the course of the next four years, this $500 million investment will enable us to dramatically expand and upgrade primary, specialty and outpatient surgical care centers downtown. A centerpiece of the transformation will be the construction of a new hospital with inpatient beds, procedure and operating rooms, and a brand-new emergency room – at 14th Street and Second Avenue, just two blocks away from Mount Sinai Beth Israel. We want to reassure the community that Mount Sinai Beth Israel remains open for business and looks forward to continuing to provide healthcare for residents of the downtown community. There will be no loss of services for the community at any point in this four-year process.

Kenneth L. Davis, MD President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System

For additional updates and information, please visit our website: www.mountsinai.org/downtown.

JUNE 2-8,2016